Breathe

On Monday we had an appointment for Bennett at the University of Iowa Hospitals with Dr. Trapane, a genetics doctor. It was his yearly exam with them. They did a skeletal survey, which is basically x-rays of his entire body, in the morning, and then at noon we met with the doctor.

Once again Bennett continues to stump everyone! His bones look completely normal, nothing has changed over the past year. Praise God! They did an upper to lower segment ratio (measure from hip to toe and compare it to his arm span) and it is 1.6 with the average at his age being 1.53. At our last appointment in Iowa City his ratio was 1.9, so he is actually become MORE proportional over time. The doctor also feels that Bennett's upper-arm length looks shorter because he has big biceps:) He is our little muscle-man! They were very happy with the way he is growing. He weighs in at 23 pounds, 11 ounces (7th percentile), 32.5 inches (13th percentile), with a head circumference of 46.5 cm (10th percentile)...a peanut, but such a cute one!

We had a long discussion about the fact that the baby I am carrying now is showing the same signs that Bennett did. Dr. Trapane says that obviously it must be something that is being passed down in a recessive manner through our genes. This means that all of our children have a 25% chance of having whatever this is, and Ethan has a very good chance that he is a carrier of it. Of course, it takes just the right two people to come together to make these genes show themselves, and Adam and I are the right two people. We have the exact same genes that have a change in them that is creating this in our kids. Make sense? The stumper is, we don't know what it is! She says that the majority of children with skeletal dysplasias have a change in their bones that can be seen in x-rays. For example, the hip bones in children with achrondroplasia are actually shaped a little bit differently. THEY SEE NOTHING DIFFERENT IN BENNETT'S BONES!! :) This can change as Bennett continues to grow, but we just wait and watch...we are completely at peace with this.

On Monday, we also had an ultrasound with my OB, Dr. Hintz. This is the longer ultrasound that he typically does at 20-22 weeks. I didn't even know what to think, what to expect. When Bennett was inside of me every ultrasound we went to held grim news, and it only got worse the closer I got to my due date. This was not the case today!!!!!! Praise God!!!!!!!

The fourth ventricle in her brain that was dilated is, "unremarkable", nothing to really comment on anymore. Dr. Hintz said that it isn't even something that he would recognize as abnormal in another baby. It has shrunk down so much from 4 weeks ago.

There is still fluid around her heart, but NOT EVEN NEAR the amount that was there last time. He said the only thing that he can see that may be causing it is that one of the ventricles is a little thicker on one side, causing the blood on that side to flow through slightly faster than on the other side. There is great blood flow through it, so he is not overly concerned. He is going to continue to watch it.

Her arms and legs are measuring around 3-4 weeks behind. However, her bones look nice and straight. Everything else looks to be growing just as it should be. AND, I will only have to deliver in Iowa City if something changes with her heart.

Here are some ultrasound pictures of our precious baby girl that is a special gift from God.




Isn't she just gorgeous! :) Ethan, Bennett and this little sweetie are made just the way God wanted them to be made. I am going to be the proud mom of 3 beautiful children soon. Regardless of how short or tall they are, or what struggles they may face, I know that God has a plan for each of them.

Psalm 139: 1-18

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you.